Expansions: BASF expands additives capacity; Evonik opens centre for PA solutions in sports/consumer goods in China

German chemical firm BASF says it is strengthening its leadership in plastic additive solutions by expanding its production capacities for both standard and NOR HALS products. With this, BASF adds it addresses the key megatrends in the use of plastics: rising UV radiation, increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, and stricter environmental regulations. These trends are driving demand for materials that deliver longer service life, higher durability, and improved sustainability.

As climate conditions become more extreme and sustainability expectations increase, growers – particularly in China, the world’s largest plasticulture market – are seeking film materials that deliver durability, efficiency, and environmental responsibility. Modern agricultural films must withstand intense sunlight and heat, but also aggressive agrochemicals and mechanical stress from thinner designs. BASF’s NOR HALS technology provides industry-leading resistance to high UV exposure, elevated temperatures, sulphur-based products that create acidic microclimates, and increasingly harsh pesticides. This robust stabilization enables enhanced structural and optical integrity for reliable multi-season performance, reducing replacement frequency, labour effort, and waste.

These advantages are especially significant in China, where greenhouse, mulch, tunnel, silage, and balewrap films are essential to sustaining food production across diverse climate zones. BASF’s NOR HALS platform provides long shelf life even under intense sunlight and acidic conditions, reduces plastic accumulation in soil through easier recollection and fewer film breakages, and boosts farmer productivity by minimizing the need for frequent film replacement. By maintaining optical clarity and structural integrity, the technology ensures consistent light transmission – a critical factor for maximizing yields in Chinese greenhouse operations. At the same time, extended durability and reduced material requirements support China’s growing sustainability ambitions and its continued leadership in plasticulture.

It adds that producers benefit from the ability to manufacture thinner films without compromising strength or longevity, ensuring stable performance across multiple seasons while lowering material use and environmental impact. To further promote safety and production efficiency, BASF offers its NOR solutions in AR form, which significantly reduces dust formation during handling and processing. This approach enables cleaner working environments, simplifies dosing and masterbatch production.

In other news, German chemical firm Evonik has announced the opening of a dedicated polyamide research and innovation hub for sports and consumer goods. Dubbed the “Evonik Asia PAthletic Center,” the facility focuses on polyamide-based material innovation – especially with polyether block amides (PEBAs), application development, and technical support to the sports and consumer goods industries. The hub will help customers accelerate product iterations and commercialisation, it adds.

The centre was inaugurated with an official ceremony at the recent Chinaplas exhibition for the plastics and rubber industry.

“Evonik PEBA supercritical foaming materials have proven their exceptional performance in a wide range of running shoe models,” said Dr. Forrest Gan, Senior Manager of Compound Engineering at Deckers International HK Limited. “We look forward to the new Asia PAthletic Center bringing Evonik even closer to brand partners, enabling deeper collaboration and more precise solutions to real-world commercialisation challenges. We are excited to see Evonik continue to introduce high performance, diversified product solutions that empower brands and drive the next wave of footwear innovation.”

The centre will offer comprehensive testing and evaluation capabilities for both rigid materials (PA12) and soft materials (PA12 elastomers), covering international standards such as ISO and ASTM as well as brand-specific standards. It will also feature pilot-scale plastics processing capabilities and can provide 3D-printed samples, injection-moulded test specimens, and films supporting early-stage validation.

Long-chain polyamides like PEBAs are used in athletic footwear, apparel, sports equipment, and specialized protective gear. Processed into key components and core structural parts, these materials enable lightweighting, durability, comfort, and overall performance.

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